International passenger markets registered growth in Asia Pacific region
Travel Biz News —
International air passenger markets recorded a further increase in demand, stimulated by the availability of affordable airfares and improvements to connectivity , according to Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) .
In aggregate, the region’s airlines flew 30.3 million international passengers in November 2019 , a 3.4 per cent increase compared to the same month last year. The moderate growth reflects the general slowdown in global economic activity.
During the same month, international air cargo demand in freight tonne kilometre terms (FTK) fell by 1.9 per cent year-on-year, as declines in new export orders affected international trade activity.
Commenting on the results, Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General said, “Asian airlines carried a combined 342 million international passengers during the first eleven months of the year, achieving 4.2 per cent growth despite falling business confidence levels and corresponding moderation in economic activity across regions. Tourism activity continued to lend support to leisure travel, with growth within the region boosted by the availability of affordable air fares.”
“The outlook for air passenger markets is still reasonably positive, with expectations of continued moderate expansion in the global economy. Meanwhile, the region’s carriers remain vigilant in monitoring and responding to changes in market conditions, whilst seeking new growth opportunities,” he added.
The AAPA is the trade association for scheduled international airlines based in the Asia-Pacific region. The AAPA permanent secretariat is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with international representation in Brussels and Washington, D.C.
Collectively, the region’s airlines carry 1,623 million passengers and 23 million tonnes of cargo, representing over one-third of global passenger and air cargo traffic, and thus play a leading role in the ongoing development of global aviation.
Jan 13 , 2020
Photo : Thai Airways
